SCHOLA MATOVU

Dr. Schola Matovu is a gerontological nursing researcher, educator and scientist, working to advance science and contribute to alleviating social injustices such as poverty, gender and health inequalities within the global community. Through advocacy, service and empowerment, she strives to advance the nursing profession and promote health, well-being & quality of life of older adults, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities. Dr. Matovu's foundational research explored the experiences and psychosocial well-being of Ugandan grandparent-caregivers for grandchildren affected by HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Her current NIH & foundation-funded research is focused on using a community-engaged approach to designing and testing of culturally appropriate interventions tailored to the needs of marginalized grandparent-caregivers in Uganda and Utah. Dr. Matovu’s current NIH-funded K01 study [1K01TW012427-01A1] uses the NIH Stage Model to refine and adapt the Building A Joint Action for JaJJAs (BAJJAJJA), an innovative, multi-component intervention that she developed and that constitutes an income generating activity and health coaching for grandmother-caregivers in Uganda. As a Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators funded fellow, Dr. Matovu is also bridging the gap between her research program in rural Uganda and the United States by exploring the unmet needs of older grandparent-caregivers and barriers to their knowledge and utilization of, and access to resources and services in Utah's urban and rural settings. Dr. Matovu is also a co-founder and Executive Director of Nurse-to-Nurse Global Initiative, a nonprofit whose mission is, in part, to empower and promote leadership and professional development of nurses, especially those in under-resourced settings. Dr. Matovu has been recognized with prestigious awards for her work and commitment to service, leadership, and global health research. Such awards include the 2023 UU CON Excellence in Service Award, the 2022 Jane Norbeck Distinguished Service Award from the UCSF School of Nursing Alumni Association, and the Early Career Global Health Scientist Award from the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences.